Some veteran players wouldn’t like it if their team drafted two players who play their position. However, Seattle Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald has no problem with the team’s additions of Marquise Blair and Ugo Amadi, who were selected in the second and fourth round, respectively.
In fact, McDougald is honored to be a leader for Seattle’s young secondary, and likes what he has seen from the two rookies so far this offseason.
He was particularly impressed with Amadi, who has gotten a lot of reps around the field thanks to injuries to other key members of the secondary.
“Nothing but athleticism,” McDougald commented during mandatory minicamp earlier this month. “Especially Ugo [Amadi], I really, really like him. He’s small, but he’s quick. He moves well and I’ve seen him play a nickel and free safety. He’s just getting better every day. He’s really taken advantages of these reps.”
Amadi was originally drafted with the intention of playing free safety, but he ended up seeing a lot of time at the nickel spot during rookie minicamp, a fact that surprised and impressed coach Pete Carroll.
Amadi figures primarily to be a special teamer next year, although his versatility should afford him plenty of reps on the defense as well.
While Blair has been limited because of a hamstring injury, McDougald is still excited about what he brings to this defense.
“Marquise [Blair] is a hell of a player too, you know,” McDougald continued. “Everybody knows him for hitting and being aggressive, but his coverage is really good too. I feel like he’s raw. Like just a raw athlete. He just comes out there and he competes, he grinds, he’s fast and like everybody else, he’s got things to work on and a little growth into his playbook.”
Blair and Amadi will compete with third-year veterans Tedric Thompson and Lano Hill to play alongside McDougald in the secondary next year.
Regardless, they will both make an immediate impact on the special teams, and represent the future at the position now that the Legion of Boom era is over.
